easy1000words / Vietnamese / Guides
Vietnamese guides
What people really say in Vietnam: slang, dating, swear words, tones, food and travel. 959 phrases, each with a play button.
Dating and love
- How to flirt in Vietnamese40 Vietnamese flirting phrases with audio, from a first hello to asking someone out, plus how each one lands and what to say back.40 phrases6 min read
- How to say I love you in VietnameseAnh yêu em or em yêu anh? Who says which, plus 15 softer and stronger ways to say I love you in Vietnamese, with audio and replies.33 phrases6 min read
- Vietnamese terms of endearmentAnh yêu, em yêu, bé, cưng, vợ yêu, ck and vk: the pet names Vietnamese couples really use, who says which, and when each one fits.29 phrases6 min read
- Dating in VietnamHow dating in Vietnam really works: pronouns, who pays, texting on Zalo, family and taking it slow, with the Vietnamese phrases for each step.33 phrases6 min read
- Meeting your Vietnamese partner's familyWhat to call her parents, what to bring, how to handle the meal and the toasts, and what to say at Tết, with every phrase in Vietnamese.36 phrases6 min read
Slang, texting and swear words
- Vietnamese slang you'll actually hear50 Vietnamese slang words with audio, from nhậu and xỉn to chảnh and toang: what each means, how common it is, and whether it's Saigon or Hanoi.50 phrases6 min read
- Vietnamese Gen Z slangDecode Vietnamese Gen Z slang from TikTok and Facebook: khum, u là trời, cạn lời, thả thính and 36 more, with audio, meanings and where each came from.40 phrases6 min read
- Vietnamese teencode, decodedRead Vietnamese texts like a local: a teencode decoder for k, j, z, đc, mk and 40 more, plus the spellings, emoji and laughs young people use.46 phrases6 min read
- Vietnamese swear words, explainedThe Vietnamese swear words you'll hear, from trời ơi to the đ-words: what each literally means, how strong it is from 1 to 3, and how people text them.39 phrases6 min read
- Vietnamese insults and comebacksFrom đồ ngốc to mất dạy: common Vietnamese insults with audio, how strong each one is, what riders shout in traffic, and calm ways to answer back.44 phrases6 min read
Speaking basics
- The six Vietnamese tonesHear the six Vietnamese tones on one syllable, with audio: how to say each one, how Hanoi and Saigon differ, and practice pairs like phở and phố.31 phrases7 min read
- Northern vs Southern VietnameseHanoi or Saigon? How Northern and Southern Vietnamese differ in tones, sounds and everyday words like bát and chén, with audio, and which one to learn.48 phrases7 min read
- Vietnamese pronouns, made simpleAnh, chị, em, cô, chú, bác: a simple chart of Vietnamese pronouns by age, with audio, how to choose the right one, and which ones sound rude.34 phrases7 min read
- How to say hello in VietnameseXin chào is just the start. How Vietnamese people really say hello to friends, elders, staff and on the phone, with audio, and what to say back.38 phrases6 min read
- How to say thank you in VietnameseCảm ơn or cám ơn? How to say thank you in Vietnamese to friends, elders and staff, warmer and formal versions, and how to reply, with audio.35 phrases6 min read
Learning Vietnamese
- Is Vietnamese hard to learn?An honest answer: what's easy in Vietnamese (Latin alphabet, no verb endings), what's hard (tones, pronouns, accents) and a plan that works.39 phrases8 min read
- How long does it take to learn Vietnamese?Realistic Vietnamese milestones by hours and by word count, from your first 100 words to real conversations, plus a 20-minute daily routine.25 phrases6 min read
- Vietnamese words with no English equivalentThương, duyên, nhậu, quê, hên and 15 more Vietnamese words English can't translate in one word, with what they really mean and how to use them.37 phrases7 min read
- Vietnamese numbersCount in Vietnamese with audio, then use it: prices with nghìn, k and triệu, money slang like lít and xị, phone numbers and market maths.55 phrases7 min read
- Vietnamese phrases for expatsThe Vietnamese you need for daily life as an expat: your landlord, Grab drivers, deliveries, repairs, neighbours, the wet market and the doctor.50 phrases6 min read
Travel, food and Tết
- Basic Vietnamese phrases for travelers45 survival Vietnamese phrases with audio for the airport, Grab rides, hotels, directions and emergencies, plus what people say back to you.45 phrases7 min read
- How to order food in VietnameseFrom calling the server with em ơi to no chilli, no coriander and the bill: 36 Vietnamese phrases for street stalls and restaurants, with audio.36 phrases6 min read
- How to order coffee in VietnamCà phê sữa đá, nâu đá, bạc xỉu, salt coffee and egg coffee: what each one is, the Hanoi and Saigon names, and how to ask for less sugar or ice.31 phrases6 min read
- Vietnamese New Year greetingsWhat to say at Tết 2027 (6 February) to elders, friends and your boss, how lì xì works, and the customs and taboos to know, with audio for each wish.34 phrases7 min read
- How to bargain in VietnameseThe Vietnamese phrases for haggling at markets, how to hear prices like 'một trăm rưỡi', polite tactics that work, and when not to bargain at all.31 phrases6 min read
Vietnamese phrasebooks
- TravelAirport, hotel, taxi, directions, money60 phrases
- FoodStreet food, ordering, tastes, drinks60 phrases
- IntroductionsMeeting people and small talk50 phrases
- Dating & slangFlirting, dates and Gen Z texting186 phrases
- Texting & abbreviationsk, đc, j, mk, 50k: what texts and signs really say91 abbreviations